This article contains details about plotlines described in the anime. Do not proceed unless you want to be spoiled. |
Mari Ohara is a main character in Love Live! Sunshine!!. She was a third year student at Uranohoshi Girls' High School until she graduated in the anime's series finale. She is a member of Guilty Kiss, a sub-unit under Aqours and was a member of the original group. Her image color is violet.
Background[]
Mari is a third year student whose parents (her mother and Italian-American father) manage a hotel chain, Ohara Hotels and Resorts, including Hotel Ohara on Awashima Island (based on the actual Awashima Hotel, currently the Wyndham Grand Awashima) where Mari lives in a suite, which proves her upbringing from a very wealthy family.[1] She's childhood friends with Kanan Matsuura and Dia Kurosawa, knowing them since elementary school.
Due to her part Italian-American upbringing, Mari speaks with an accent and often inserts English words into her speech every few lines (in the English dub, the English words are replaced with Italian words).[2] She also tends to speak in the third-person.
She is first seen in the first episode flying in the family's helicopter, before formally appearing in Episode 3, where she becomes the director of Uranohoshi Girls' High School (despite still being a student) after her family contributed a large amount of money to the school. Season 1 Episodes 6, 8 and 9 reveal that she, Kanan and Dia formed a school idol group two years ago while on their first year, Kanan having convinced Mari to join. However, Mari had suffered an injury right before an important performance, so Kanan and Dia decided to step down and not perform. Later on, Mari leaves Uchiura to study abroad after the three disband their school idol group. Once Mari learns the truth in Episode 9, she confronts Kanan over it, but both reconcile with the other and decide to become school idols once again, joining Aqours alongside Dia.
Personality[]
Mari has a cheerful, eccentric and mischievous personality, makes many jokes, and often prefers to work by herself. She always keeps her chin up when faced with hardship so as not to burden others, and is ready to try her hand at anything. However, as a half-foreigner, she does not feel that she is very suited to being a Japanese-style idol.
Despite Mari's cheerful personality, there are times when she can be serious as shown in Season 1 Episode 9.
Mari speaks with an accent, and she has a high, cheerful voice. Mari often inserts English words (Italian in the English dub) into her sentences, but when she is sad or serious, the pitch of her voice becomes lower, she loses her accent, and she uses English words less.
Clubs and Hobbies[]
Mari's hobbies include sports and horseback riding, and her talent is in her flexibility and singing. Her favorite genre of music is industrial metal, as stated in her official introduction and shown in Season 2 Episode 2.
Appearance[]
Mari has a slim figure with light blond hair that she has tied into a braided headband with a loop on the left side and bright green eyes.
Other Data[]
- Note: Dengeki G's Magazine is a monthly magazine that is part of the Love Live! and Love Live! Sunshine!! multimedia projects. As it is usually the first source of news for all major projects under these titles, its monthly sections will detail how the project has progressed over time. The issues are usually published a month ahead of time. For example, the July 2010 issue would've been released on 30th May 2010.
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| Aqours DIARY: Everyone's Diary (April 2018)[22] |
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 Caption: |
| Question & Answer Corner |
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| What kind of music is industrial metal?[4] Asked by ハイレモンさん @Twitter Ah--- You heard about that? You heard about it--- Yep, you definitely heard about it. Kusu kusu♪ Hmm, I think you'll definitely understand it right away if you listened to it on the internet but--- It's a bit like the intense feeling of deep bass in heavy rock? It's fun when there's fire and explosions♡ It's exhilarating~! Please try to give it a listen♪ You take horse-riding lessons, but is there a particular horse you have a really great relationship with?[4] There is~! Of course♪ The horse I get along best with since I was a child is Starbright! A thoroughbred horse with a large build, it has a pattern on its forehead that resembles a cool white star. It's tall so riding it is a bit hard, and its temper is also a bit rough, but it's clever and kind only to me, a real tsundere horse♡ And oh, it's female, by the way. It's my best friend! What do you wear when you go to sleep!?[23] The answers everyone is looking forward to are of course, "Only underwear♡" or "Negligee", or maybe "Just perfume♡"--- That's right, isn't it? Do you have any favorite Japanese idioms?[24] Tons of them~!! "Shichijitsugōken" (A strong, silent personality), "Kūzenzetsugo" (The first and probably the last), "Itchōisseki" (In a short period of time), "Kadai sanseki" (Challenges abound)!! I especially love phrases that rhyme, with words flow together smoothly~♡ It almost feels like they're music, right? Though English poetry also has rhymes, Japan's phrases has tighter connections and feel sharper in a good way♪ They're so cute they make me excited♡♡ How good are you at horse-riding?[24] I only do horse-riding as a hobby right now--- so of course I'm nowhere near the level of an actual athlete. Plus it's not the British-style show jumping you might expect in Japan, but a Western style♡ But riding along as though I was one with my horse is always extremely fun! You can leave it to me if you want to ride together♪ Are there any times when you are troubled because your home is a hotel?[24] Troubling times--- Not really, I think♡ Ah--- If there was any, it would probably be that it's a little hard for me to receive any secret packages? The mail is always delivered to the reception, and the concierge always delivers it to the rooms, so I think the sender would definitely be checked. All the people who want to send me secret fan letters from here on, please take note♪ You like punk and metal, but after becoming a school idol, have there been any new genres of music that you've started to like?[24] Japan's idol songs are unique--- I didn't quite understand them at first, but rather than just being cute, lately I've come to understand that there's also a surprisingly funky side to them--- I think sticking to their cute image is also pretty cool too♡ But it would be great if someday Aqours could form a punk unit, and sing a baa~ad song. Everyone headbanging together♪ What's the best present you ever received that made you happiest?[24] That question is so hard--- I mean, any present filled with emotion would make Mari the happiest in the world, so--- Ah, but then, that's right. During my birthday before summer vacation, all the other members sang the birthday song for me♡ That's the best present that made me happiest lately. I won't ever forget the sight of the messy cake which Ruby accidentally flipped over♪ It seems you have your own personal chef, but can you cook?[24] My speciality dish is hot sandwiches wrapped in aluminium foil cooked in an outdoors bonfire♡ Before going on any long rides with my horse, I make them using bread and corned beef. Paired with hot coffee brewed in a pot, it's the best! And so the cuisine I cook is solely outdoors♪ Maybe next time I'll try making baked apple in a Dutch oven next time♡ Does Starbright have any other horses as friends?[25] Right now, it's alone in its stable--- so while it's sad, it doesn't have any other horses as friends, but it seems like it's friends with the cats and penguins raised on the island. Hehe--- Isn't it amazing, for it to have penguins as friends--- Living in a hotel is also interesting in that aspect. So Cute♪ I'm certain it'll make friends with the sea lions and dolphins while living here too♡♡ |
Video[]
Audio[]
- Does not work on iPad, or any medium that does not support the .ogg audio format.
| No. | Songs | Duration | Audio |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Greetings from Ohara Mari[26] | 2:27 |
Songs[]
The songs featuring Mari are:
Kimi no Kokoro wa Kagayaiteru kai?
Step! ZERO to ONE
Aqours☆HEROES
Koi ni Naritai AQUARIUM
Mattete Ai no Uta
Todokanai Hoshi da to Shitemo
Aozora Jumping Heart
Humming Friend
Yume Kataru yori Yume Utaou
Sunshine Pikkapika Ondo
Mijuku DREAMER
Omoi yo Hitotsu ni Nare
MIRAI TICKET
Pops heart de Odorun damon!
Daydream Warrior
Thrilling・One Way
Taiyou o Oikakero!
Jingle Bells ga Tomaranai
Seinaru Hi no Inori
HAPPY PARTY TRAIN
SKY JOURNEY
Shoujo Ijou no Koi ga Shitai
Landing action Yeah!!
Mirai no Bokura wa Shitteru yo
Kimi no Hitomi o Meguru Bouken
Yuuki wa doko ni? Kimi no Mune ni!
"MY LIST" to you!
MY Mai☆TONIGHT
MIRACLE WAVE
Awaken the power (Featuring Saint Snow)
WATER BLUE NEW WORLD
WONDERFUL STORIES
Kiseki Hikaru
Hop Step Waai!
Thank you, FRIENDS!!
No.10
Bokura no Hashittekita Michi wa…
Next SPARKLING!!
Hop? Stop? Nonstop!
Brightest Melody
Over The Next Rainbow (Featuring Saint Snow)
Jump up HIGH!!
I-n-g, I TRY!!
Bouken Type A, B, C‼
Mitaiken HORIZON
Deep Resonance
Dance with Minotaurus
KOKORO Magic "A to Z"
Wake up, Challenger!!
CYaZALEA☆Kiss☆DADANDAAAN
Fantastic Departure!
Aqours Pirates Desire
JIMO-AI Dash!
Sora mo Kokoro mo Hareru kara (9 Members Ver)
Future flight
Smile smile ship Start!
Kokoro no Hane yo Kimi e Tondeke!
DREAMY COLOR
KU-RU-KU-RU Cruller!
SUKI for you, DREAM for you!
Namida×
Not ALONE not HITORI
GEMSTONE "DE‐A‐I"
Nando Datte Yakusoku!
Yume + Mirai = Mugendai
BANZAI! digital trippers
KA-GA-YA-KI-RA-RI-RA
SORA, FUJI, SUNSHINE!
Genjitsu Mysterium
GAME ON!
Kimi no Tame Boku no Tame
SILENT PAIN
Wonder sea breeze
La la Yuuki no Uta
Numazu Yassa Yoisa Uta
BLOOM OF COLORS
Deep Blue
SAKURA-saku KOKORO-saku
Bokura no Umi de Mata Aou
Eikyuu hours
LIVE with a smile! (Featuring Nijigasaki High School Idol Club and Liella!)
Chronology[]
| Ep. | Title | |
|---|---|---|
| 01 | "I Want to Shine!!" (輝きたい!! "Kagayakitai!!") |
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| In Episode 1, Uranohoshi Girls' High School student Chika Takami discovered the school idol group μ's while trying to catch a runaway flyer. Having had looked for something to devote her all to for a long time, she was inspired and decided to form her own school idol group.
After third year student and student council president Dia Kurosawa denied Chika permission to form a school idol club, Chika and You Watanabe took the ferry to meet up with Kanan Matsuura, who told them she would not be re-entering school for a while longer. The three of them look up and notice a pink helicopter flying past, in which Ohara Mari was sitting. | ||
| 03 | "First Step" (ファーストステップ "Faasuto Suteppu") |
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| In Episode 3, Chika, You, and Riko Sakurauchi were training on the beach when they saw the Ohara family's helicopter flying by, which eventually landed near them.
With Mari's arrival to the school, she introduced herself as the new chairwoman of Uranohoshi Girls' High School. Dia, who knew Mari back from their first year in Uranohoshi, pointed out how unbelievable it was for a third year to be the new chairwoman. Mari showed her proof and stated that she came to support Chika, You, and Riko. She then challenged them to fill the gym with audience in order to get her approval for their School Idol Club. The three second year students realized that there weren't enough students in their school to fill the gym, which caused them to advertise their concert in other places as well. Before their concert, Aqours worried about people not attending due to the rain. They laughed it off and stood behind the stage's curtain, hand in hand. However, when the curtains raised, they only had a small group of audience. Included in the audience were Mari, Ruby Kurosawa, Hanamaru Kunikida, and a disguised Yoshiko. Despite this, they continued their concert and performed "Daisuki dattara Daijoubu!" while Kanan and Dia listened from outside the gym. | ||
| 04 | "Two Girls' Feelings" (ふたりのキモチ "Futari no Kimochi") |
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| In episode 4, the school idol club was finally approved by Mari. Although delighted, the second years questioned why she was so keen on helping them.
A surprised Kanan got a visit from Mari, who explained she had come to scout Kanan as a school idol. The two were revealed to already know each other, and the scene concluded with Mari sighing at Kanan’s stubbornness. | ||
| 05 | "Yohane Descends" (ヨハネ堕天 "Yohane Daten") |
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| In episode 5, the school idol club uploaded a fallen angel themed video online using their new costumes. This upset Dia, but in contrast Mari expressed liking the video.
In the last scene of the episode, Dia confronted Mari about an email she had received. Mari stated it meant exactly what it said and the flustered Dia asked if she was kidding. However, it was not revealed what was written in the email. | ||
| 06 | "Let's Make a PV" (PVを作ろう "PV o Tsukurou") |
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| In episode 6, Mari told Dia that Uranohoshi Girls’ Academy might be closing due to a declining number of applicants and merging with a high school in Numazu. Mari expressed how important the school was to her, and how she thought school idols could save it, with which Dia disagreed.
Kanan payed Mari a visit to ask about the school shutting down, to which Mari replied that it was something they would have to fight for, and that she wanted Kanan to fight again. Showing the chairwoman their promotional video, Mari told Chika and the rest of Aqours that they did not know what it was that made their town and their school great. After Mari proclaimed she knew better herself, Chika decided not to ask, considering it something they had to figure out for themselves for it to be worth something. On her way to the clubroom Chika spotted Dia on stage in the empty auditorium. While she did decline Chika’s offer of joining the school idol club, Dia stated she was happy that they wanted to save the school. As Dia was leaving the room, Ruby stopped Chika from calling out to her, and a flashback showed the third years seemingly right before a school idol performance. Mari showed up and told Dia you can’t run away, only move forward, but Dia denied she had been trying to run away. In accordance with Uchiura tradition, all the town members gathered early in the morning of the first day of beach season to make and release floating lanterns. Riko, for whom it was the first time experiencing the tradition, talked about how she did not realize there were so many people living in the town and suggested that maybe that was the special thing about Uchiura and Uranohoshi Girls’ High School. Hearing this, Chika gathered everyone’s attention and introduced Aqours, saying they needed the help of everyone in town to save their school. "Yume de Yozora o Terashitai" was performed as an insert song by the currently six Aqours members, thus concluding the episode. | ||
| 07 | "TOKYO" (TOKYO) |
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| In episode 7, Aqours were invited to perform at an event in Tokyo. Dia confronted Mari, worried that Aqours would not succeed in Tokyo. To this Mari responded that Dia could try to stop them if she wanted, but questioned if Dia did not have hope that Aqours could succeed where she, Mari and Kanan had previously failed. | ||
| 08 | "Isn't it Frustrating?" (くやしくないの? "Kuyashikunai no?") |
|
| In episode 8, Kanan met up with Mari after hearing that Aqours had come in last place at the event. She asked Mari what she was going to do, and said saving the school by winning Love Live! was impossible. Mari asked if giving up was a better option, and Kanan walked off the scene saying it was indeed better to do so before someone got hurt, ignoring Mari’s open arms. A crying Mari was left behind, set on regaining the feeling she had had with Kanan and Dia in their school idol group two years prior. | ||
| 09 | "Young DREAMER" (未熟DREAMER "Mijuku DREAMER") |
|
| In episode 9, a flashback showed Kanan quitting the third years’ school idol group after their return from Tokyo. She mentioned Mari’s turning down an opportunity to study abroad and also said Dia agreed with her there was no point in them continuing.
On one of her early morning walks Kanan was followed by the school idol club, who overheard Kanan and Mari talking about Kanan’s returning to school. However, Kanan said she was not going to become a school idol again and that she did not want to talk to Mari any more. At school, Kanan and Mari got into a heated argument, which made Chika burst into the room and yell at them to break it up, and to come to the club room of the school idol club after school. There, Kanan continued to claim that the fact she could not sing in Tokyo was the reason she had quit being a school idol. Once she had left the room, the other girls pushed Dia into revealing that Kanan did not sing at the event to prevent Mari from performing with an injury, and that she quit being a school idol because she did not want Mari turning down other opportunities. Crying, Mari sprinted out into the rain, and ended up at Uranohoshi Girls’ High School. Kanan joined her there and Mari said they needed to talk. She shared her feelings, and slapped Kanan, saying she shouldn’t take it lightly that Mari cared about her. Kanan answered she should tell her straight if that was the way she felt, and the two of them hugged. Aqours convinced Dia to join them, Chika saying they’d all help out if juggling school idol duties and student council president duties got too much, and Ruby handing her a stage costume. All nine girls performed “Mijuku DREAMER” as an insert song, and Dia turned out to be the one who wrote “Aqours” in the sand, it being the same name the third years’ previous idol group had. | ||
| 10 | "We've Got Stewshine" (シャイ煮はじめました "Shai-ni Hajimemashita") |
|
| In episode 10, summer vacation began for the now nine members of Aqours. Summer is the season of the Love Live! competition, and Dia had somehow managed to get her hands on the training schedule μ's used when they were active. Since Kanan and Chika had been asked to help run a snack bar on the beach, the members decided to camp at the Takami family inn in order to make time for practice.
Initially intimidated by a competing snack bar on the beach, Dia quickly took charge and assigned tasks once she received encouragement from Mari. Riko, Chika and Kanan begun advertising in order to draw in customers, seemingly somewhat unwillingly. Meanwhile, You, Yoshiko and Mari started cooking the food. With everyone exhausted after attempting to train the way μ's did, they all sat down to eat Mari’s Stewshine and Yoshiko’s Tears of a Fallen Angel takoyaki that had not sold during the day. Aqours's second day of managing the snack bar wasn’t all too successful either, but everyone enjoyed the curry You made using both Mari’s and Yoshiko’s culinary creations. Dia tried to hold a lesson on Love Live! history, but it was cut short due to Chika’s sister Mito thinking they were being too loud. | ||
| 11 | "Aye-aye, My Friend" (友情ヨーソロー "Yuujou Yousoro") |
|
| In episode 11, all the members of Aqours saw Riko off as she left for Tokyo to compete in a piano competition that would take place the same day as the regional Love Live! qualifiers. They made the promise to sing together on the same stage next time.
As “special practice”, Dia got the eight of them to help clean up the school’s pool, and once they finished they decided to practice their dance in the empty pool. With Riko missing, Aqours needed to adjust their formation, and opted for You to fill in Riko’s spot. Having been surprised to discover the first two Aqours members were Chika and You rather than Chika and Riko, Mari confronted You suggesting she was jealous of the relationship between Chika and Riko. Although initially denying the accusation, You eventually opened up and took Mari’s advice to be honest with Chika to heart. The night of the Love Live! qualifiers and Riko’s piano competition, everyone wore the matching scrunchies Riko had sent as bracelets. Riko played her piece at the competition, and the remaining eight Aqours members performed “Omoi yo Hitotsu ni Nare” on stage. | ||
| 12 | "It's Time to Fly" (はばたきのとき "Habataki no Toki") |
|
| In episode 12, the members of Aqours were happy and relieved to find out they made it through the regional qualifiers of the Love Live! after a nervous wait. While the video of their performance had gotten a lot of views and comments, the number of applicants for the school’s open house was still zero.
Chika couldn’t help but compare Aqours to μ's, and wondered if the school idols she looked up to weren’t regular people after all. Calling the other Aqours members, she suggested they’d all go to Tokyo before Riko went back home, and try to figure out what made μ's great. In Tokyo, Chika had arranged for Aqours to meet up with Saint Snow, who told Chika and the others they did not know what made μ's and A-RISE different. To them, what mattered was winning and following in the footsteps of their predecessors. Together, both groups watched the announcement of the Love Live! finals being held at the Akiba Dome on the screen outside the UTX High School building. At Riko’s suggestion, Aqours visited Otonokizaka High School. They learned that μ's had not left anything from their school idol days at Otonokizaka, saying their hearts would be connected even without those things. Chika and Riko said the visit had brought them closer to the answer of their question. On the train back to Numazu, the nine of them took a stop to look at the sea. Chika said that they couldn’t compare themselves to μ's, and all of the members started realizing that they had to run freely, stand on their own feet and not chase after someone else in order to become great. They decided that what they were running towards was turning the zero into a one. | ||
| 13 | "Sunshine!!" (サンシャイン!! "Sanshain!!") |
|
| In episode 13, Aqours were practicing for the Love Live! regionals during the hot days of summer vacation. Meanwhile, the number of applicants for Uranohoshi Girls’ High School was still zero. At the end of the day, Mutsu, Itsuki and Yoshimi showed up to tell Chika that they, along with other people in the school, were also interested in saving the school and had thought about becoming school idols. Chika invited them to sing with Aqours at the Love Live!.
The nine members of Aqours met up with Mutsu, Itsuki and Yoshimi, who brought with them an abundance of other Uranohoshi Girls’ High School students. However, everyone’s excitement was restrained when Riko announced that the rules said only the people who had applied initially would be allowed on stage. In the end, although only Aqours would be on stage, all the other girls decided to cheer them on from the audience. Before their performance, the school idol club members reflected on their time together. Ruby and Hanamaru were embraced by Yoshiko, while Mari, Kanan and Dia thanked each other for getting this far, and Chika told You and Riko she wanted to enjoy everything the future had in store together. Proclaiming there weren’t just nine of them, Chika opened the door to the stage. Prior to performing their song, Aqours introduced themselves by telling the audience their story and their goal. When they counted to nine, part of the audience yelled “ten”, pronouncing their being the tenth member of the group. Halfway through the performance of “MIRAI TICKET”, Chika called out for everyone to shine together with them. The Aqours supporters of the audience ran down to stand next to the stage, creating a circle of blue light sticks around it. Meanwhile, the number of applicants for the school flipped from zero to one. | ||
| Ep. | Title | |
|---|---|---|
| 01 | "Next Step" (ネクストステップ "Nekusuto Suteppu") |
|
| In episode 1, Mari and Dia were motivating the student body, including the rest of Aqours, to work hard at attracting students to the school this term, too. Chika showed up just when the upcoming Love Live! was mentioned, and they all decided Aqours was going to participate.
During their regular afternoon practice session on the roof, the girls started discussing holding a concert at the open house. Mari noticed someone calling her phone, but did not pick up. Realizing they would not be able to stay as long at school with the buses’ fall timetable, they set out to find a place to practice in Numazu. Kanan seemed to take note of Mari not acting like her usual self. Having argued with her father over the phone about something happening too soon, Mari was confronted by Kanan who wondered what had been bothering her. Mari initially lied and tried to evade the question, but eventually opened up to Kanan. The next day at school, Aqours revisited the issue of a new practice space. Without anyone noticing the third years suddenly disappeared. Dia overheard Mari and Kanan talking and realized the truth they were trying to protect her from. In a locale made available to the group thanks to You’s father, the third years revealed that the open house has been cancelled, and the decision about the school merger was made final. Chika reacted strongly, saying she would personally seek Mari’s father out and convince him to change his mind, but let it go when the others explained to her how there was nothing to be done. Disheartened, the girls went home. When Chika showed up at school early to tell the universe she was not going to give up yet, she was surprised to find the rest of Aqours followed a similar impulse and were there, too. Together, they decided to keep working toward their goal no matter how impossible it may seem. They were going to aim for a miracle. | ||
| 02 | "The Sound of Rain" (雨の音 "Ame no Oto") |
|
| In episode 2, Aqours got the news that the school would stay open for another year if the number of prospective students was raised to at least one hundred. Although this initially sounded like to much for them to handle, Chika motivated them by saying they should not worry about whether it was possible, but rather simply make it happen.
With the Love Live! coming up sooner than expected, the second years found the workload of having to create two songs at once difficult to handle. To make it easier on them, everyone decided to split the workload and had the second years create a song for the open house while the third and first years created one to perform at the Love Live!. While Chika, Riko and You headed for Chika’s house to work on their song, the rest of the girls initially tried Mari’s home as a work space, but found the extravagance there too distracting. Having moved somewhere more understated, they discovered that the differing tastes of the third contra the first years made it difficult to agree on lyrics and music for the song. Ruby sent a text to Chika, Riko and You, who so far had not come up with anything either, asking them to come at once. In order to better work together, the first and third years decided to spend some time together try to get to know each other better. Having tried a couple of activities together, it was clear that the two groups did not find the same things fun. Needing to seek shelter from a sudden rainstorm, the girls headed to a temple nearby as per Hanamaru’s suggestion. Revisiting the idea of creating a song together, it still seemed hopeless until the ceiling started leaking. Together, they all helped place plates and pots on the floor to catch the water, and found that although the tones and tempo of the different raindrops were out of tune, they all came together to create music. When all nine girls regrouped, celebrating the two completed songs, Mari received a phone call. | ||
| 03 | "Rainbow" (虹 "Niji") |
|
| In Episode 3, a new problem arose. The school open house was postponed by a week, putting both the Love Live! qualifiers and the open house on the same Sunday.
Aqours tried to find a way to travel between the two venues in time to perform at both events, without luck. With going by boat and by helicopter both out of the question, it seemed the only possible way to make it in time would be to perform as the first group and catch a bus. As the order of the performances would be decided by lottery, the group decided to let Yoshiko do the honors. Much to everyone’s disappointment, they ended up as the 24th group to perform. The group thought the only option left was to choose just one event, but could not decide on one. The next day Chika and Riko suggested they split the group and perform at both events, to which the group reluctantly agreed. When Sunday finally came, Chika, Riko, You, Dia and Ruby were overjoyed to be joined by the other four onstage for the performance of MY Mai☆TONIGHT. Confused when the second years immediately ran off after the song ended, the group found out Chika had arranged for them to use a monorail for mikan transport to travel back to school. With this and help of their school mates, they made it back in time to perform Kimi no Kokoro wa Kagayaiteru kai? at the open house. | ||
| 04 | "Don't Call Me Dia-san" (ダイヤさんと呼ばないで "Dia-san to Yobanaide") |
|
| In episode 4, Chika woke up in an unusually happy mood. In reply to the other girls’ queries about why she was not nervous to see whether or not they had passed the Love Live! qualifiers, she stated she was sure they would pass, something that proved true moments later. In celebrating their success, Dia noticed how her fellow third years seemed to be getting along well with the younger students, while she still felt a disconnect.
Chika’s mood fell with the realization that Aqours was out of funds after the recent performances. As they turned both to the gods and Mari’s family in a futile effort to get more money, Dia felt left out when Mari and Kanan both were addressed more informally than she was. After they had parted with the others, Dia tried to tell Mari and Kanan how she felt. When they got too close to the truth however, she became defensive and made it sound like she thought it was inappropriate for them to be too close with the first and second year girls. They were not fooled by this, and hoped Dia would come along soon. Forced to come up with an idea to replace the one she shot down, Dia led the group into setting up a stand at a flea market. Once again, her expectations of getting close to the others and being addressed informally fell short as she became upset with the rest of the girls not handling the task in the same way she would. Afterwards, Chika noticed how there seemed to be something wrong with Dia and spoke of her concerns to Kanan, who said she and Mari would take care of it. As the two confronted Dia, she finally admitted that she would like to be addressed more informally in order to feel closer to the others. The other two teased her about this, but when they met up at Izu Mito Sea Paradise the next day they suggested she use the time they would spend working together to show her less formal side to the others. Dia tried her best to make small-talk and play around, becoming increasingly frustrated as the others took this to mean she was angry or upset with something. Finally, Mari and Kanan told the others what was going on, explaining how Dia, despite her cold exterior, gets lonely easily. When a class of kindergartners at the aquarium ran amok, Dia took control of the situation by being authoritative but not as harsh as usual. At the end of the day, Aqours gathered. Chika told Dia that it was best if she acted like herself, and how they all appreciate her for who she is. Dia accepted this, and was delighted to finally be addressed with the preferred honorific. | ||
| 05 | "Taking in A Dog" (犬を拾う。 "Inu o Hirou.") |
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| In episode 5, Aqours had to cut their practice short due to the rain. Yoshiko was offered a ride with the others but said no as she lived nearby.
The group gathered at Chika’s house to decide on a theme for their performance in the Love Live! regionals. While the girls were discussing trying new things for this performance, they noticed Yoshiko had gone home early without warning. A few days later, the members of Aqours became concerned with Yoshiko and Riko's weird behavior. | ||
| 06 | "Aqours WAVE" (Aqours WAVE) |
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| In episode 6, the venue for the Love Live! regional preliminaries was revealed to be the same as during the last Love Live!. Meanwhile, the third years worried that their deadline for raising the number of prospective students was drawing close.
During practice, everyone was happy to discover Aqours on a list of groups most likely to make the national competition. Before they had time to finish celebrating, the less good news that success in the regionals would rely heavily on the number of students in the school hit them. Later at night, Dia and Mari discovered that Kanan had been thinking about the move that cost the first Aqours its place in the Love Live! finals. Kanan thought their idea of trying it again was nothing but harmful. After she tried to throw the notebook containing the move into the sea, Mari dove in to retrieve it. Chika brought the question of what made Aqours special up at practice, prompting Mari to introduce the move to the rest of the group, much to Kanan’s dismay. Despite Kanan’s warnings that it would be the most difficult for the center, Chika said she would be able to do it. As Chika was struggling to learn the move, everyone became increasingly more worried that she was pushing herself too far. After almost a week of endless trying and failing, she agreed to Kanan’s demand that she give up if she could not do it come next morning. Determined to make it work, Chika spent the night on the beach practicing. Despite Riko, You and the first years coming to cheer her on, she failed and felt that she had not accomplished anything. Riko and You reminded her that she had forgotten to thank herself for how far they had come already. As Chika was getting ready to try the move one last time the third years showed up, and the episode concluded with Chika perfectly landing the move during the performance of MIRACLE WAVE at the Love Live! regional preliminaries. | ||
| 07 | "The Time Left" (残された時間 "Nokosareta Jikan") |
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| In episode 7, Aqours was announced to be one of the groups in the Love Live! finals. The video of their performance had been doing well, the only problem was that the number of applicants for the school was not rising as hoped.
Calling in another favor from Mari’s father, the girls managed to get an extension until 5 AM the next morning. Chika initially was eager to do anything she could to help make the number rise, but was talked out of it by the rest of the girls. By 1 AM, there still were only 87 applications. Becoming more and more desperate and restless, they sent out the first years to buy something to eat. They were still six applicants short by the final hour. Everyone was on edge waiting for the last two applications to drop in during the last minute. Finally, the application page shut down. The next day, Mari announced the news to the rest of the school. Aqours initially tried to ignore what had happened and commence practice as usual, but stopped when Chika started crying. They decided to call it a day and take some time to think about whether they still wanted to partake in the Love Live!. Sora mo Kokoro mo Hareru kara was performed as an insert song while everyone took to their respective houses to consider what to do next. Meeting up the next morning, the nine girls agreed that they would never manage to shine as school idols when they had not succeeded in saving their school. At this moment, the rest of the student body showed up saying that they would like for their school to be remembered through Aqours, and convinced the girls not to end their journey yet. | ||
| 08 | "HAKODATE" (HAKODATE) |
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| In episode 8, Aqours were invited to Hakodate to attend the Hokkaido Love Live! preliminaries as guests. Before the competition, they visited Saint Snow in their dressing room. Chika accepted Sarah Kazuno’s challenge to bring their best to the Love Live! finals, but Ruby noticed that something seemed to be the matter with Leah Kazuno.
During Saint Snow’s performance, they made a mistake in the choreography and fell on stage, which ended up costing them their spot in the finals. When Aqours went back to their dressing room, they had already left. The Uchiura girls went sightseeing in Hakodate, and ended up at the restaurant where Sarah and Leah worked. At dinner the sisters’ fight about Leah wanting to disband Saint Snow resurfaced. In contrast to the other Aqours members, Ruby seemed to understand Leah’s feelings, saying she probably was afraid being a school idol would not be worth it without her sister. | ||
| 09 | "Awaken the power" (Awaken the power) |
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| In episode 9, the first years told the rest of Aqours they would be staying behind for a while, neglecting to mention the actual reason they were doing so. On the plane ride home, Dia was having trouble making her peace with the idea of not having Ruby with her.
Back in Uchiura, Chika told the others how she suspected the first years might be working on something of their own. The next day, Mari received an email from Ruby. Ruby and Leah finally revealed their secret to their sisters, and the rest of Aqours were acting mysteriously about also showing up in Hakodate. At the event, Saint Aqours Snow performed Awaken the power. | ||
| 10 | "Finding a Way to Shine" (シャイニーを探して "Shainii o Sagashite") |
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| In episode 10, Mari remembered how she tried to wish on a shooting star with Kanan and Dia when they were little, but failed to do so because of the sudden rain.
On New Year’s Day, Aqours were paid a visit by Saint Snow to help them practice. After Aqours switched their kimono for more appropriate practice wear, they were pushed hard by Sarah and Leah. The guests were surprised to find out the students of Uranohoshi had failed to save their school from the merger, but were quick to show their support. Mari received a phone call from her parents offering her the position as director at the new school. Due to already having plans for next year she turned the offer down, making everyone aware of their limited time left together. Later that night, Mari, Dia and Kanan met up and shared a heartfelt moment of wishing they did not have to part ways after graduation. They reminisced on Mari sneaking out and threatening to disown her parents as an elementary school student, and while they were happy to realize they had taught each other a lot, their attempts to make a wish were once again hindered by downpour. The third years gathered the rest of Aqours for a late night drive to find shooting stars. Arriving at a plateau, the rain still had not stopped. Just as the girls wished to be together forever in spite of this, promising to work on making the sky visible, the episode concluded with the clouds clearing up to reveal a night sky full of shooting stars. | ||
| 11 | "Uranohoshi Girls' High School" (浦の星女学院 "Uranohoshi Jogakuin") |
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| In episode 11, Aqours and the rest of the students of Uranohoshi Girls’ High School were preparing for the School Closing Festival set for the next day. Chika, You and Riko set up an arch at the entrance, Mari set up a stand to serve an improved version of her Stewshine dish, and it turned out Yoshimi, Itsuki and Mutsu were the ones to suggest holding the festival.
Preparations continued, with Hanamaru and Yoshiko working together, Ruby making costumes and Dia putting aside her student council duties to focus on the event. Everything was going smoothly until Shiitake turned up at school, setting everyone back by destroying some of the decorations. To give students more time to finish preparations, Mari arranged for transport home with the help of her family. The next day at the festival, everyone’s hard work paid off. Chika walked around school seeing Kanan and You’s underwater showcase, Ruby and Dia’s Love Live! Quiz, Yoshiko, Hanamaru and Riko’s fortune telling stand, as well as her older sisters’ serving grilled mikan. At the end of the day, Yoshimi, Itsuki and Mutsu showed an impressive balloon display. After the festival, the students all gathered around a bonfire. Mari spoke about how much the school had meant to her, and ended up voicing her regret about not being able to save it through tears. The student body cheered her up by showing their support for Aqours through a chant, and finally they all sang together. | ||
| 12 | "Sea of Light" (光の海 "Hikari no Umi") |
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| In episode 12, the members of Aqours met up at school, and set off toward the Love Live! Final in Tokyo. Arriving in Tokyo, the girls headed to Kanda Shrine, where they prayed for good fortune in the competition and realized many other school idols had done the same. Before leaving, they met Saint Snow, and Sarah asked Chika if they wanted to win the Love Live!.
Back at the inn, they started a pillow fight to take their thoughts off of the upcoming performance. Chika, You and Riko decided that come tomorrow they would all go their separate ways before meeting up at the venue. In the morning, Chika asked the other members of Aqours if they wanted to win the Love Live!. After going on their respective excursions, the third years crossed paths and reminisced on their past, present and future. Finally, all nine girls ran toward the concert as a group, and did one final Aqours chant together before performing WATER BLUE NEW WORLD at the Love Live!. | ||
| 13 | "Our Own Radiance" (私たちの輝き "Watashitachi no Kagayaki") |
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| In episode 13, the day had finally come for the combined graduation and school closing ceremony. Dia was surprised to find out Mari had arranged for the students to paint farewell messages on the school walls, and the student body arrived at the ceremony splattered with paint. Mari handed out diplomas to the graduating students, and Dia held a speech as student council president. To conclude the ceremony, Aqours announced their Love Live! victory, and Aozora Jumping Heart was used as an insert song.
Afterwards, Aqours and the other students went around the school to close doors and finish saying their goodbyes, to each other and to the school. You and Riko were in the music room, Yoshiko, Hanamaru and Ruby in their classroom, Kanan and Dia in Mari’s office giving her her diploma, and Chika closed the door to the club room. Finally, Chika was about to break down in tears as she was closing the school gates, but received help from her friends. Some time later, Chika went to the school auditorium and found Aqours, including the third years who had come back to sing together one last time. For their last performance, Aqours sang WONDERFUL STORIES. | ||
Etymology[]
- The name Mari means "ball" (鞠) (ma) and "white jasmine" (莉) (ri).
- Mari's surname Ohara means "small" (小) (o) and "field, plain" (原) (hara).
Trivia[]
- Mari fulfills the smile attribute of the Aqours third years.
- In real life, Mari's home is based on the actual Awashima Hotel, currently the Wyndham Grand Awashima.
- Unlike the rest of Aqours, Mari wears a turquoise vest in her summer uniform and wears white socks as opposed to black socks.
- Mari has similar features to µ's members Eli Ayase and Nozomi Tojo.
- Both Mari and Eli are blondes, the tallest of the group, foreigners, and third years.
- Both Mari and Nozomi are Geminis, the bustiest of the group, fluent in English, and love to grope their fellow members.
- Mari is the tallest of all of the Aqours characters at 163 cm (or 5'4"), which is ironic since her seiyuu is the shortest of Aqours seiyuus.
- Mari is the oldest school idol of Aqours.
- Mari is the second school idol to slap her childhood friend. The first being Umi Sonoda.
- Mari is the second character since Dia to run away from arranged marriages set up by her parents (in Mari's case, her mother).
- In the Kimi no Kokoro wa Kagayaiteru kai? PV, Mari's personality was shown to be more quiet and reserved, compared to her anime personality, where she is more loud and energetic.
- It was stated in Mari's SIF side stories that she has liked marching bands ever since she was a little girl.
Gallery[]
- Please refer to this character's Image Gallery.
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Official Character Introductions
- ↑ Koi ni Naritai AQUARIUM Radio Dramas
- ↑ Official Introduction from Website
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Dengeki G's Magazine September 2015 issue
- ↑ Dengeki G's Magazine October 2015 issue
- ↑ http://gs.dengeki.com/news/39869/
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Dengeki G's Magazine November 2015 issue
- ↑ Dengeki G's Magazine December 2015 issue
- ↑ Dengeki G's Magazine April 2016 issue
- ↑ Dengeki G's Magazine May 2016 issue
- ↑ Dengeki G's Magazine June 2016 issue
- ↑ Dengeki G's Magazine July 2016 issue
- ↑ Dengeki G's Magazine August 2016 issue
- ↑ Dengeki G's Magazine September 2016 issue
- ↑ Dengeki G's Magazine December 2016 issue
- ↑ Dengeki G's Magazine March 2017 issue
- ↑ Dengeki G's Magazine March 2017 issue
- ↑ Dengeki G's Magazine April 2017 issue
- ↑ Dengeki G's Magazine July 2017 issue
- ↑ Dengeki G's Magazine August 2017 issue
- ↑ Dengeki G's Magazine December 2017 issue
- ↑ Dengeki G's Magazine April 2018 issue
- ↑ Dengeki G's Magazine June 2016 issue
- ↑ 24.0 24.1 24.2 24.3 24.4 24.5 Dengeki G's Magazine November 2016 issue
- ↑ Dengeki G's Magazine January 2017 issue
- ↑ Kimi no Kokoro wa Kagayaiteru kai? Single